Thai veteran Wiratchant leads Singapore Classic

Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand plays a shot during round one of the Singapore Classic yesterday.

Photo: AFP / Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant stormed ahead with a nine-under-par 61 to take the clubhouse lead as the first round of the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic was suspended due to darkness yesterday.

Korean-American David Lipsky continued his fine run in his rookie season with a polished 63 to take second place, while Sam Cyr of the US returned with a 66 to take a share of third place with Malaysia’s Shaaban Hussin.

Taiwan’s Lu Wei-chih, who recorded the event’s first hole-in-one on the 13th at Orchid Country Club, is at four-under through 12 holes with American Jonathan Moore, who has nine holes to play at the US$400,000 Asian Tour event.

Thunderstorms in the afternoon forced two lengthy suspensions that stretched over three hours. As a result, all 78 players in the afternoon session could not complete their rounds.

Thaworn, 45, told the Asian Tour: “There was never any pressure for me out there. When I stepped up to the tee today, I was already feeling very confident and I had a good feeling about my round today.”

“This course suits my game and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week,” the 12-time Asian Tour winner added.

Lipsky, 23, said he was enjoying his fine run.

“It was a fun day indeed. Thaworn also played very well and we sort of fed off each other,” he said.

“After I made my second birdie on the 16th from off the green, I was basically cruising from there,” added Lipsky, who will play alongside Thaworn in his opening two rounds.

Although Cyr said that he had put in a good round, the 25-year-old American knows that he has to work on his short game to stand a chance of lifting his maiden title.